2015 SUV Buyers Guide

SUVs are the ultimate in unapologetic family transportation. You can haul kids, sports gear and a boat at the same time without breaking a sweat.

What’s new?

General Motors recently finished releasing new versions of the Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade from Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac. The Chevrolet variant is available with a 5.3-liter EcoTec V8 while the GMC models are also optionally available with a 6.2-liter V8 in Denali trim.

Cadillac sells the Escalade exclusively with the larger of those two. For 2015, GM is migrating its SUVs to its new eight-speed automatic transmission to enhance fuel economy.

The Lincoln Navigator is being refreshed for 2015 to compete with the Escalade and is only being sold with Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6. It offers 365 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, which means it and the Escalade tie in how much torque they offer.

But those are far from the only remaining body-on-frame family haulers for sale in North America. Toyota still sells the 4Runner and the Land Cruiser while Nissan will be glad to send you home with an Armada. Of course, Ford still offers the Expedition if you like the Navigator’s maximum 9,000-lb towing capacity but can do without the lofty price tag and associated accouterments.

What’s Coming

Toyota is in the midst of re-designing the Sequoia for the 2015 model year. Nissan is also preparing a new version of the ancient Armada that will arrive sometime after the new Titan reaches dealers in the 2015 model year.

It’s said that the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Well, this is also true of plans cobbled together by automotive journalists. It was time once again for the AutoGuide.com yearly pilgrimage to Detroit for the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Living within a four-hour proximity to the motor city, as…

Maybe you’ve noticed the updated Volkswagen Touareg. Scratch that, it’s a safer bet you haven’t seen one of these premium crossovers. Enhanced for 2015 the vehicle gains a variety of features that are sure to please drivers, even if they have a hard time seeing them. As far as automotive refreshes go this is about…

You’re never supposed to judge a book by its cover, but whoever came up with that adage obviously never saw a bound version of the U.S. tax code. The 2015 Ford Expedition looks almost exactly like the model it’s replacing but is there more to this story than meets the eye?

The full-size Navigator SUV has been a consistent moneymaker for both the division and its dealers and so the 2015 Navigator — a refresh rather than a full redesign — has been carefully executed so as not to break the Navigator’s momentum.

The totally redesigned 2015 Cadillac Escalade features an upgraded powertrain, a sumptuous new interior and more standard equipment than ever. Keeping with tradition, it’s all wrapped in a bold package that’s unmistakable.

SUV News

Land Rover has pushed off-road luxury to new heights once again, with a new model that’s not just its highest priced vehicle ever, but the most expensive SUV on the market. Retailing for $199,495 the new Range Rover SV Autobiography is the first SUV to even come close to the $200,000 mark and surpasses the…

The Dodge Durango R/T is getting a little bit of interior spice. The 2015 Dodge Durango R/T is adding new optionally available “Radar Red” Nappa leather upholstery for $1,195. Previously available only on the Charger and Challenger models in the Dodge lineup, the American automaker has added it to the Durango, complementing the sporty attitude…

The German luxury truck that Mercedes formerly sold as the ML is changing names and adding a hybrid powertrain for the 2016 model year. Aside from the name change Mercedes’ mid-size SUV also comes with revised front and rear fascias that make it look more at home beside newer products like the S-Class and C-Class….

Making the Range Rover Sport even more sporty for 2016 is a new limited edition HST edition. Closing the gap between the 340 hp Range Rover Sport and the 550 hp Supercharged model, the HST adds 40 more ponies for 380 hp from the same 3.0-liter supercharged V6. But power is nothing without control and…

Every year, the Easter Jeep Safari takes over Moab, Utah, and brings with it a host of new concepts from Jeep. For 2015, seven custom concepts have been put together by the brand. Many of the parts used are currently available through Mopar, though some are prototypes. A small team of dedicated engineers put together…

BMW has revealed its first production plug-in hybrid model. The 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e will feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a total system output of 313 hp from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology combined with an electric motor. According to the German automaker, the 111-hp electric motor is is…

Jeep is teasing two of its upcoming concepts heading to the 2015 Moab Easter Jeep Safari. Each year, the American automaker brings a collection of concepts to the annual event and this year the company will have seven concepts in tow. The 49th Annual Easter Jeep Safari will take place in Moab, Utah from March…

Hyundai plans to expand its U.S. factory so it can increase capacity for SUVs. The brand plans to add a new assembly line at its Alabama facility, right next to the line that currently builds the Sonata and Elantra. Demand for SUVs and crossovers has been increasing recently while sales numbers for cars like the…

The 2015 Porsche Cayenne SUV can now launch in the “most efficient manner possible” when equipped with the Sport Chrono package. At least that’s how the German automaker describes its Performance Start feature that is now part of the Sport Chrono package on the 2015 Porsche Cayenne. The technology sounds an awful lot like the launch…

Porsche is giving its crossover and SUV models some new optional upgrades. The German automaker has announced a new optional sports exhaust system for the Macan S Diesel that gives the crossover an even more resonant sound. According to Porsche, the exhaust aids in giving “an even more emotional driving experience, thanks to a modified…

We have now been given our clearest look at Bentley’s upcoming SUV, the Bentayga, thanks to our spy photographers. Although one of Bentley’s test drivers is standing in front of the SUV blocking our view of the grille, these photos give us a clear look at the shape of the headlights and profile of the…

The Hyundai Santa Fe mid-size crossover is a well put together package. So much so that last year it won our three-row CUV/SUV shootout for its blend of practicality, ease of use and value packaged features. And, like virtually every crossover on the market, the Santa Fe is available with all-wheel drive, which is an…

Land Rover is reinventing one of its most iconic models and plotting its return to the U.S. Arriving in time for the Defender’s 70th anniversary in 2018, the British automaker will recreate its legendary SUV for the first time since 1948. According to a report from Automobile, the Land Rover Defender range will become a go-anywhere…

Mercedes is getting serious with off-roading, presenting the G500 4x4² concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Based on the long-wheelbase variant of the existing G Wagen, the concept has 17.7 inches of ground clearance and is powered by the German automaker’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 422 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. 2015…

This is how Germany does jacked up trucks. This is the Mercedes G500 4X42. It’s only a show concept for now, but the latest interpretation of the G Wagen is based on the already ostentatious long wheelbase model, except Mercedes went absolutely crazy this time. For example, it has 17.7 inches of ground clearance, which…

Volkswagen is gearing up to produce its new midsize SUV. “The all-new midsize SUV is a vital component in Volkswagen’s growth strategy for the U.S. market, meeting the demands of the customer and dealer network,” said Michael Horn, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. The German automaker announced construction has begun at its Chattanooga…

What are the worst cars available on today’s market? Consumer Reports has released its annual list of the best and worst cars available, after putting each vehicle through a battery of tests. The overall scores for each vehicle are based on over 50 individual tests and evaluations and each is scored on a 100-point scale. Reliability and crash…

The first fuel economy figures for the 2015 Jeep Renegade have been announced. The compact crossover when equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive will return 22 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway, good for a 25-MPG combined rating. Add four-wheel drive to the mix and…

Nissan is discontinuing the Xterra at the end of 2015. Nissan’s Jeep Wrangler competitor needs upgraded safety and emissions equipment to stay on the market and it seems the brand has decided that the investment is not worth it. This is mostly due to the Xterra’s declining sales, which fell by 7 percent last year to 16,505…

Bentley is hard at work preparing its very first SUV. Our spy photographers snapped some pictures of the new Bentley Bentayga winter testing near the arctic circle. The luxury SUV will hit the market in 2016, powered by a W12 gasoline engine. Later on, a plug-in hybrid and a V8 diesel engine will join the…

Mercedes has released details on the baby brother of the G 63 AMG 6×6. Previously, the German automaker released a sole image of the G 500 4x4² but now the company has revealed full specs and details ahead of its Geneva Auto Show debut. Sporting a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine churning 422 hp, the G…

Mercedes is finished building one its most ridiculous projects to date, the G63 AMG 6×6. With just over 100 sold, the brand is calling it quits to make sure that these behemoths retain their exclusivity. Base pricing for the massive G63 starts at 379,000 Euros or roughly $500,000 USD and power comes from a twin-turbo V8 that makes…

Land Rover will celebrate the arrival of its new Discovery Sport with a special Launch Edition. The British automaker has officially announced the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport Launch Edition which will be priced from $49,900 including destination. That’s over a $10,000 premium from the standard Discovery Sport base model ($37,995) but includes a Yulong White Metallic…

Pricing on Volvo’s newest SUV model has been announced for the U.S. through an online configurator. The 2016 Volvo XC90 will be priced from $49,895 including destination for the T6 AWD Momentum base model. Powered by a 2.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the XC90 cranks 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque while seating seven….

Unchallenged leadership is never good. Toyota hasn’t needed to put up a fight in the mid-size truck market for a very long time. At least not until now because for 2015, GM is releasing all-new versions of Colorado and Canyon.

One year ago we put eight compact crossovers in a battle royal to determine which high-riding hatchback is the best in the business. Focusing on comfort, efficiency, value and practicality, a surprise champion emerged; the Subaru Forester.